American Sign Language & English Bilingual Early Childhood Deaf Education: Birth to 5 Certificate Program

This Graduate certificate program is designed to offer a program of study for in-service and pre-service professionals who work with or are seeking careers working with deaf and hard of hearing children from birth to 5 years old and their families in educational settings.

The 21-credit certificate program is designed to make it possible for full-time professionals to take courses. The program will emphasize advocacy, language planning, pedagogy, assessment, program planning, and theory and practices in ASL/English bilingual early education. In alignment with the Department of Education's mission, the program will emphasize culturally relevant critical pedagogy as a goal for the candidates to become change agents and leaders in advocating for and educating deaf and hard of hearing children and their families.

Admission Requirements & Procedures

Interested applicants for the American Sign Language & English Bilingual Early Childhood Education: Birth to 5 Certificate Program may apply for either graduate or professional studies training (PST) credits. All applicants must complete the application procedures and meet the requirements for graduate study at Gallaudet University. Applicants who are interested in obtaining professional studies (PST) credit should visit the Center for Continuing Studies website: Center of Continuing Studies and applicants for the graduate certificate program should visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information: Graduate Admissions

The deadline for Consideration of Application for summer admission: April 1st.

The program admission requirements are:

Applicants must have a B.A. or B.S. degree.

Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average in all previous undergraduate (and graduate if applicable) study. (Occasionally, applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be admitted conditionally upon the recommendation of the department).

Applicants have or are pursuing teaching certification or licensure, preferably in the area of early childhood education, special education, deaf education, or speech-language pathology

Resume showing prior and/or current experiences being employed in an early childhood program or field

Access to working with young children and their families in an early childhood environment during the program. This access can be on the job or through a practicum or internship experience.

Applicants must submit a completed application form requesting admission to the Certificate program.

Technology requirements and computer requirements/skills: A Mac or PC computer with access to the internet capable of running the most recent and updated web browser is necessary for participation in our online courses. The minimum operating system are Windows XP or higher for PC and MacOS 10.5 or higher for Mac. Candidates are responsible for obtaining their own Internet access and are expected to have basic computer and Internet literacy prior to the start of the course. Prior to taking courses in the program, students should know how to use: email, word processing programs, presentation programs (such as PowerPoint), and the Internet to search for information.

Achieve a result of 2+ on the ASLPI or show evidence of American Sign Language proficiency (e.g., through interviews)

Completed reference form

Summer 1

Code

Title

Credits

EDU 760

Foundations of Policy and Legislative on Bilingualism: Implications for ASL/ENG Biling for 0-5

3

EDU 761

Theoretical Perspectives of ASL/ENG Bilingual Education for 0-5

3

Fall 1

Code

Title

Credits

EDU 762

Early Language Acquisition and Cognitive Development of Bilingualism

3

EDU 767

Capstone I

1

Spring 1

Code

Title

Credits

EDU 763

Assessment and Individualized Planning in ASL/English Bilingual Early Childhood

3

EDU 768

Capstone II

1

Summer 2

Code

Title

Credits

EDU 764

Applications in ASL/English Bilingual Early Childhood Education for 0-5

This course is designed to educate candidates about state and federal education policies, particularly as they pertain to bilingualism. In addition, the course addresses a basic working knowledge of regulations essential to the role and as bilingual early childhood professionals. Candidates will implement policies and regulations using the language planning framework in their work in homes, schools and agencies, and the community. It elaborates and builds upon knowledge and dispositions learned in foundation courses.

This course introduces the candidates theoretical perspectives and current research of bilingualism. It is designed for the candidates to acquire an understanding of the concepts related to the development of bilingual language abilities (signacy, oracy, and literacy) for children 0-5 years of age. This course examines bilingual communities, bilingual deaf and hearing children and their language development and use, the bilingual brain, language maintenance and shift, transference, code switching and language attitudes. The course will also address historical and cultural aspects of bilingualism in early childhood deaf children.

Prerequisites: Instructor or program director's approval

EDU 762 - Early Language Acquisition and Cognitive Development of Bilingualism (3)

This course describes the early development of ASL and English in young deaf and hard of hearing children and their impact on cognitive development. The course examines how deaf and hard of hearing children go through developmental stages of acquiring and learning American Sign Language, which is similar to how hearing children go through developmental stages of acquiring a spoken language and how this development is tied to cognitive functions that are the precursors for further linguistic and academic growth (sign babbling, sign jargon, first words, ASL grammatical development and vocabulary expansion). In addition, the course will address factors intrinsic to the bilingual child as well as to the environment that promote and/or prevent their linguistic and cognitive development.

This course will address individualized planning for language and emergent literacy development that can be used as a guide for teaching and learning interventions to support a child's linguistic competence in American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Candidates will apply various American Sign Language (ASL) and English assessment tools to explore ways of assessing diverse deaf and hard-of-hearing candidates' language and literacy acquisition and learning at home and at school. Based on the results of these assessments, the Candidates will reflect on and identify the bilingual methodology approaches to meet the ASL and English language and literacy needs of candidates. They will apply these strategies to home plan, lesson and unit planning, and within their settings.

This course is designed to prepare the candidates to apply an ASL/English Bilingual Framework in Early Childhood Education for deaf and hard of hearing children. This framework describes how the acquisition and learning of ASL and English (written and spoken) are being facilitated. This course reflects upon bilingual models and concepts and discusses the language planning process required to establish an environment that demonstrates value for both languages. Also, it focuses on meeting the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing children and families that it serves. Use of bilingual methodologies, assessment, effective strategies, and language teaching including signacy, oracy and literacy and critical pedagogy will be addressed.

Prerequisites: Department's chair or program coordinator's approval

EDU 765 - The Family Collaboration and Partnership: The ASL/ENG Bilingual Lens (3)

ASL and English Bilingualism at home and in school promotes healthy language development and communication, and creates positive self-esteem among deaf/hard of hearing children from diverse backgrounds. This course/seminar is designed for professionals to acquire the knowledge and skills to work collaboratively with diverse families and other professionals to support the bilingual development and education of young deaf and hard of hearing children. Participants will discuss a working model of bilingual language acquisition (American Sign Language and English), approaches to providing support and encouragement to families, ways to promote positive communication with families, and the creation of culturally responsive and inclusive early childhood educational communities for all families. IN addition, participants will apply a basic working knowledge of Part C and Part B of the IDEA regulations as members of an early childhood education team.

Prerequisites: Department's chair or program director's approval

EDU 767 - Capstone I (1)

This capstone project course provides the opportunity for candidates in the ASL/English Bilingual Early Childhood Education: Birth to Five Certificate Program to apply and demonstrate skills, knowledge, and dispositions developed throughout the courses in the program through completing a self-designed capstone project. Candidates will complete their proposal plan for the capstone project by the end of the fall semester.

EDU 768 - Capstone II (1)

This capstone project course provides the opportunity for candidates in the Advanced Studies Program, Special Program & Graduate Certificate programs to apply and demonstrate skills, knowledge, and dispositions developed throughout the courses in the program through completing a self-designed capstone project. Candidates will show evidences of making progress with the capstone project by the end of the spring semester.

Prerequisites: Program Director's approval, completion of EDU 767

EDU 769 - Capstone III (1)

This capstone project course provides the opportunity for candidates in the Advanced Studies Program, Special Programs & Graduate Certificate programs to apply and demonstrate skills, knowledge, and dispositions developed throughout the courses in the program through completing a self-designed capstone project. Candidates will complete the project before completing the program.